2023-04-26

The Browser-Level Accessibility Tools Real Users Rely On

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Accessibility testing typically focuses on what a website or app does — its code, structure, and content. But a meaningful share of accessibility also comes from the browser itself: the tools people with disabilities already have available, often before a website does anything at all.

Understanding what's built into major browsers, and what extensions people commonly rely on, matters for two reasons. First, it's the assistive technology landscape your actual audits should account for — testing against real tools, not just automated scanners. Second, it's useful practical information in its own right, since many users (and the organizations building for them) simply don't know these features exist.

This post covers the accessibility features and extensions available across the most popular browsers today.

Google Chrome

Built-in accessibility features in Chrome

Google Chrome is one of the most widely used web browsers, and it comes packed with valuable accessibility features to help users with disabilities. One of the most prominent features is built-in live captions for audio and video, which can be enabled by navigating to Chrome's settings and selecting the Accessibility section. Additionally, Chrome offers a high-contrast mode, allows users to change the text size and zoom level to their liking, show a quick highlight on the focused object, and navigate pages with a text cursor.

Extensions for Chrome

Text-to-speech reader by Read me – Provides text-to-speech functionality for web pages, PDFs and eBooks with natural sounding voices.
SwiftRead – Allows users to read and absorb information more quickly. SwiftRead can be helpful for individuals with dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning disabilities who may struggle with reading at a slower pace.
EasyReader – Provides a clean and distraction-free reading experience with features for adjusting the font, size, and color of text, as well as text-to-speech functionality.
Volume Master – Allows users to easily control and adjust the volume of individual tabs in the browser. Boosts volume up to 600%.
Dark Reader – Applies a dark theme to websites, and offers customizable settings to adjust brightness and contrast levels. Provides several filters, such as grayscale, inverted colors, and high contrast mode, that can be applied to specific websites or globally.

Extensions for Chrome can be found in the Chrome Web Store. To access the store, simply open your Chrome browser, click on the three dots in the top right corner, and select "More tools" > "Extensions." From there, you can browse through the various extensions available and install the ones that suit your needs.

Mozilla Firefox

Built-in accessibility features in Firefox

Mozilla Firefox also offers various adjustments for improved accessibility. It includes a "Reader View" feature, which strips away clutter from web pages, making them easier to read for users with visual impairments. Additionally, Firefox allows users to change the font size, color, and background color of web pages, making it more comfortable for users with low vision to read content.

Extensions for Firefox

Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader – This extension reads selected text or entire web pages aloud using a variety of voices and languages. It includes features for adjusting the speed and volume of the speech, as well as a highlighter that follows along with the text as it is read aloud.
Dark Reader – Applies a dark theme to websites, and offers customizable settings to adjust brightness and contrast levels. Provides several filters, such as grayscale, inverted colors, and high contrast mode, that can be applied to specific websites or globally.
Tranquility Reader – Improves the readability of web articles by removing unnecessary elements like ads, images, social sharing widgets, and other distracting fluff.
Zoom Page WE – Allows to zoom web pages (either per-site or per-tab) using full-page zoom, text-only zoom and minimum font size.
OpenDyslexic – Overrides all fonts on web pages with the OpenDyslexic font, and formats pages to be more easily readable.

Extensions for Mozilla Firefox can be found in the Firefox Add-ons store. To access the store, open your Firefox browser, click on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner, and select "Add-ons and themes" from the dropdown menu. From there, you can browse through the various extensions available and install the ones that suit your needs.

Safari

Built-in accessibility features in Safari

Safari, the default web browser on macOS and iOS devices, offers several accessibility features that can make web browsing easier for users with disabilities. It includes a high-contrast mode, which can make it easier for users to distinguish text from the background. Additionally, Safari offers customizable keyboard shortcuts, which can help users with physical disabilities navigate the browser more easily.

Extensions for Safari

Noir - Dark Mode for Safari – Automatically adds a dark mode to every website a user visits.
Dark Reader – Applies a dark theme to websites, and offers customizable settings to adjust brightness and contrast levels. Provides several filters, such as grayscale, inverted colors, and high contrast mode, that can be applied to specific websites or globally.
Hyperweb – Suggests enhancements automatically as user browses, blocking annoyances and suggesting smart alternatives.

Extensions for Safari can be found in the Mac App Store. To access the extensions, open Safari on your Mac and click on "Safari" in the top menu bar. From there, choose "Safari Extensions." This will take you to the Mac App Store, where you can browse through the various extensions available and install the ones that suit your needs.

By the way, some Safari extensions may require payment. It depends on the specific extension and its developer. You can check the price of an extension on the Safari Extension Gallery or the Mac App Store before downloading it.

Opera

Built-in accessibility features in Opera

Opera browser provides several built-in accessibility features that make web browsing easier for users with disabilities. These include customizable color schemes and font sizes, built-in live captions, highlight on the focused object, and high contrast mode. These features help users with visual impairments, dyslexia, color blindness, and attention-related disorders to access web content more easily.

Extensions for Opera

Reader View – Strips clutters from webpages and read them on "Reader View" mode.
Fix Contrast – Increases contrast and saturation to make web content easier to read for users with low vision or color blindness.
Text-to-Speech – Reads web content aloud for users with visual impairments or reading difficulties.
Zoom – Allows users to zoom in and out of web content to make it easier to read. Has an option to see the circle or square magnifying glass around the mouse cursor.
Volume up – Increase the volume of audio or videos up to 600%.

Extensions for Opera can be found in the Opera Add-ons store. To access the extensions, open Opera and click on the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the browser. From there, select "Extensions" and then click on "Go to Opera Add-ons." This will take you to the Opera Add-ons store, where you can browse through the various extensions available and install the ones that suit your needs.

Microsoft Edge

Built-in accessibility features in Edge

Microsoft Edge, the default browser on Windows 10, also includes several accessibility features that can help users with disabilities navigate the web more easily. Edge offers an "Immersive Reader" feature, which can help improve the reading experience for users. It provides features such as text-to-speech, adjustable font sizes and spacing, and a focus mode that highlights and isolates text for easier reading.

In the "Accessibility" settings of the browser you can also enable options to show a high visibility outline around the area of focus on the page and an option to navigate pages with a text cursor.

Extensions for Edge

Read&Write – Provides a variety of tools for users with dyslexia or other reading difficulties. It includes features for text-to-speech, highlighting, and simplifying complex text.
Dark Reader – Applies a dark theme to websites, and offers customizable settings to adjust brightness and contrast levels. Provides several filters, such as grayscale, inverted colors, and high contrast mode, that can be applied to specific websites or globally.
Screen Mask – Follows user's mouse or touch to help eliminate page distractions and help focus on reading one passage at a time.
Font Changer – Allows users to change the font and size of text on web pages, making them easier to read for users with visual impairments.
Easy Volume Booster – Increases audio volume above the maximum. Users can set up the default volume for a domain or just for a tab.

Extensions for Microsoft Edge can be found in the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store. To access the extensions, open Microsoft Edge and click on the three horizontal dots in the top right corner of the browser. From there, select "Extensions" and then click on "Get extensions from Microsoft Store." This will take you to the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store, where you can browse through the various extensions available and install the ones that suit your needs.

Availability of extensions across browsers and operating systems

When it comes to accessibility extensions, some may only be available on a specific browser, while others may be available on more than one. Moreover, certain extensions may only be compatible with specific operating systems. For instance, some extensions may work on Windows and macOS, but not on mobile devices such as Android or iOS.

It's always a good idea to check the compatibility of an extension or add-on with your specific browser and operating system before downloading and installing it. This information can typically be found on the extension or add-on's listing in the browser's marketplace or store.

Conclusion

Web browsers have come a long way in providing built-in accessibility features and supporting a wide ecosystem of extensions. But availability isn't the same as reliability — a feature or extension existing doesn't guarantee it works well with every website's structure.

That's the gap real testing closes. An accessibility evaluation that only runs an automated scanner misses how actual assistive technology — screen readers, browser zoom, contrast tools, the extensions covered here — behaves against your specific site or app. That's why our audits combine technical conformance testing against WCAG and EN 301 549 with direct testing using real assistive technology, not just automated checks.

Understanding this landscape helps in both directions: developers building with these tools in mind, and users knowing what's available to make their own browsing experience work better.

AxAll helps organizations meet EU accessibility law – through EN 301 549 audits and remediation, a compliance platform, and expert consultancy.

‍Schedule a discovery call to start making your digital products compliant and accessible to people with disabilities.